Our daily reflections follow the M'Cheyne Bible reading plan, designed for those who want to read the whole Bible in one year. Each reflection focuses on one of the chapters from that day's readings. Darllenwch rhain yn Gymraeg.
Lord, prepare me to receive your word. Clear my mind and warm my heart. Assure me of your loving purposes for me, and speak into my life today.
The author continues his reflection on Jesus' fulfilling of the covenant God made with Israel. The work of priests, he says, is 'really only a copy and a shadow of what is in heaven'. Jesus, though, is a priest in heaven: 'He serves as High Priest in the Most Holy Place, that is, in the real tent which was put up by the Lord, not by human hands' (verse 2).
Priests provided the means of access to God by the terms of the old covenant. A perfect heavenly priest would provide perfect access through a new covenant. Hebrews quotes Jeremiah 31.31–34, where the prophet says, 'I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts.'
This is quite a technical argument, but its implications are clear enough. The 'copy and shadow' has become a reality. The middle man has been cut out; Jesus himself is the way, the truth and the life.
So followers of Jesus, rather than showing their devotion to God by rule-keeping, show it by being Christ-like. We don't rely on a human priest or on a framework of rules and regulations, but on Christ.
Human nature being what it is, we do tend to slip back into old habits. In some ways it's easier to live by the rules, or at least to judge people who don't. But Christ liberates us to become children of God, loved not because of what we do but because God is love.
God, thank you for the work of Christ, who intercedes for me in heaven. Help me to trust in him alone for my salvation.
This reflection was written by Mark Woods, Bible Society's Editor
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